It's a Natural

Maryland-based pen maker Richard Greenwald is introducing his Naturals collection, a limited edition of twist-activated ballpoint pens. They measure in at about 5-3/4 inches long and just over two ounces in weight. Made from treated leather or cork, they have sterling silver appointments individually clay cast at Richard's own machine shop. The pens are front loaded, and come with a Schmidt refill, but Parker-style refills work, too. Naturals are available at select retailers or directly from Richard.

I like Richard, and I like his pens

Have you seen the new Terzo pen from Richard Greenwald? I saw the new models firsthand at the DC pen show a couple of weeks ago, and I really liked it. Terzo, meaning "third' in Italian, was first designed in 2008 as a button-actuated ballpoint pen approximately 5.5" long and weighing about 1.1 ounces or 32 grams. The plastics, internal brass fittings, external sterling silver fittings, and the engraving were all produced "in house" in Potomac, Maryland, as were most of the tools and taps used to produce the pen. The easyFLOW 9000 refill is from Schmidt. Greenwald's pens are available at Bertram's Inkwell the Pen Haven, both in Kensington, Maryland, or directly from Richard.

I visited Richard's home-based manufactory a couple of years ago, and it if you like well-equipped and well-organized workshops, which I do, you'd like this one. He mixes all his own plastics (some are quite interesting), and his first-rate operation is right in his basement. But this is no ordinary basement, and Richard is no ordinary guy. He retired from his former career a few years ago and now structures his day around this new avocation. He has a variety of other interests he avidly pursues, including art, photography and cars--and fine cigars, which I had the pleasure of experiencing "second-hand" in his smoking room that, no surprise, is also well-equipped. Fun.